Contracting Cleaning Services at Place of Work - Yeah or Nah?

desert eagle on 01/08/2017 - 09:54
Last edited 01/08/2017 - 10:36

Hi all!

So lately the cleaning contract at my company became for tender as the current cleaners are not doing a good job.

I discussed with my boss who is organising the new contract that I know of a good cleaner and that I would arrange them to quote. After discovering that the cleaner is only setup as a subcontractor, I thought it might be a good idea to have my partner setup an ABN and subcontract the work to them and then keep the difference.

Would this be wrong? I am getting the feeling that this might be anti-competative or if any conflicts of interest came about that it could potentially jeapordise my job. Can you confirm if I am being paranoid or if this is a great opportunity for my parter to earn some extra money(providing the contract is fulfilled to the agreed standard).

Let me know what you think OzBargain! :)

EDIT: To be clear - If successful, the contract would be between my partner(who's ABN would be registered in their name) and the company where I work.

Education & Work

Comments

  • John Kimble on 01/08/2017 - 10:00
    +1

    That sounds dodgy if it is meant to be up for tender.

    Disclose the relationship to your company and let them decide. Maybe they will at least consider it in the tender process.

    • desert eagle on 01/08/2017 - 10:20
      -1

      It is up for tender but it has not been advertised. I had always given the inention that "I know someone" purely based on the fact I know they would provide competative pricing.

  • Adz81 on 01/08/2017 - 10:26
    +1

    It would also depend on your company's policy as far as awarding a tender directly to an employee… Additionally, would the $ profit be worth your time administering and sub-contracting the contract? Keep in mind that as an employee, you'll be a lot more visible as the person responsible for the cleaning. Expect to be notified of any short comings of the cleaning (real or imagined). Unless there was a reasonable pay off, I'd suggest that it may be a bigger pain in the tets than it's worth.

  • JimB on 01/08/2017 - 10:27
    +1

    Very wrong.

    Basically you're profiting from the contract to your employer.

    • desert eagle on 01/08/2017 - 10:31

      I think you might have mis-understood the OP. The contract would be between my partner who's ABN would be registered to them(nothing to do with me) and my company.

      • John Kimble on 01/08/2017 - 10:42

        It has something to do with you and you know it's a grey area/wrong, which is why you are asking. If everyone won business because of friends or family connections, then no one else would be able to win business. That's why it's unfair.

        • desert eagle on 01/08/2017 - 10:44

          Understood. But where do you draw the line between employees and contractors. They still get paid by the company to perform work. I know for a fact that a large number of employees are employed purely based on the fact that they have friends/family working for the company.

        • John Kimble on 01/08/2017 - 10:46

          @desert eagle: Don't get me wrong I see your point. It probably happens a lot. Just depends how serious your company is on these matters.

        • desert eagle on 01/08/2017 - 10:49

          @John Kimble:

          As suggested below, I am consulting OzB for now, when it comes to speaking to my boss again, I will be completely honest with my plans.

        • D C on 01/08/2017 - 18:13

          @desert eagle:

          They still get paid by the company to perform work.

          But they may not be the best (or cheapest) at performing that work. When it all goes wrong (ok, may not happen here) that's your 'deer in the spotlight' moment.

          At my last job a woman hired her boyfriend for a job someone else wanted. Both woman & boyfriend gone.

      • JimB on 01/08/2017 - 10:43

        Same shit, but I think you're trying to justify your actions.

        As a litmus test tell your boss your plans and see what they think.

        You get paid by the company to do your job for the company, not to benefit your friends and family members.

        Why are you posting as a third person?

        • desert eagle on 01/08/2017 - 10:47
          -1

          Why are you posting as a third person?

          OP = "Original Post" in that context.

          As a litmus test tell your boss your plans and see what they think.

          I have decided to be completely transparent with my boss - just thought I would first consult OzBargain.

        • [Deactivated] on 01/08/2017 - 10:47

          As a litmus test tell your boss your plans and see what they think.

          Another test would be, if you don't tell your boss now and he find out later (which he will), what would he do? Say no biggie or fire you?

        • desert eagle on 01/08/2017 - 10:50

          @sp00ker:

          Say no biggie or fire you?

          This is my greatest concern. Definitely intend on being honest with him on this one.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/08/2017 - 10:51
    +2

    conflict of interest, but I would do it if I could and anyone else that says no is jealous.

  • airzone on 01/08/2017 - 10:58
    +3

    Sounds like something an old ex-colleague did. And when I say ex, it was because he got fired.

  • altomic on 01/08/2017 - 11:13

    as long as you declare your pecuniary interest (i.e. it's your partners ABN) then it is the decision of your manager.

  • fruit on 01/08/2017 - 11:59
    +3

    Holy crap OP didn't you ever do an anti-corruption course at work?

    • desert eagle on 01/08/2017 - 13:33

      No. Please elaborate?

      • John Kimble on 01/08/2017 - 13:37

        Large corporations have mandatory compliance courses all employees must complete every year. Anti bribery/corruption/money laundering/discrimination/bullying etc

        • D C on 01/08/2017 - 18:09

          Try working for a bank, holy hell.

          Mind you when one of the questions was "Bob the vendor and possible terrorist takes you to lunch at an 'adult' establishment…" that resulted in much argument over just what was an 'adult' establishment. Pub ok? Strip club not so much?

          (Somewhere here I've got a list of classes of what 'adult' is from another job…)

        • John Kimble on 01/08/2017 - 18:12

          @D C: Yeah, I have. I never read them though. Just skipped them all and took my chances with the quiz.

          Sounds like my loss. Haha

        • D C on 01/08/2017 - 18:17

          @John Kimble:

          and took my chances

          My usual technique.

          Did that at the current job. Either I'm getting dumber or the questions are getting harder. Passed one test on the third try.

      • Adz81 on 01/08/2017 - 13:56

        Last one I did, the key take away was, does it pass these 4 questions:

        1) Is it legal?
        2) If you read about someone doing this in the press, would it bother you?
        3) Would you be comfortable if your family knew you were doing it?
        4) How does it feel? (IE: gut feel- if it feels wrong, it probably is… you know, if you have to ask an anonymous internet forum if something's above board, it might not be)…

        That kind of anti-corruption training.

        • airzone on 01/08/2017 - 14:26

          I took away that the items of a value of $20 USD is the boundary between a gift and a bribe for a government official in Texas.

        • John Kimble on 01/08/2017 - 14:27

          @airzone:I skip all slides and answer the questions at the end :/

        • Adz81 on 01/08/2017 - 14:35

          I don't remember what the $ value for these guys was. All I know is when I asked my line manager about reporting a dinner I'd been taken to by a contractor that was bidding on a tender I'd helped prepare, I was told, "You're a contractor yourself, you don't need to report anything…"

        • airzone on 01/08/2017 - 21:33

          @John Kimble: I used to do that until the clipboard warriors put a delay before the next page button activated…

        • John Kimble on 02/08/2017 - 06:27

          @airzone: It's only a few seconds :p

  • TheBilly on 01/08/2017 - 17:37
    +1

    Distance yourself from the decision making process, advise your boss or whoever to undertake a competitive tender (3 to 5 bidding contractors), disclose your "financial" relationship, bid for it just like everyone else - If they accept then there is nothing to worry about. It's only dodgy if you skew it in your favour. Plus this kind of stuff happens like daily in all industries, however there is just that added risk with an on-going contract as opposed to single transactions. Define "Partner" is this your wife girlfriend? or jut a mate that is opening an ABN and just going to pay you on the side? Why don't you join them in the ABN?

  • Hardlyworkin on 01/08/2017 - 22:15
    +1

    Have you ever thought about a life in politics?

    • John Kimble on 02/08/2017 - 06:28
      +1

      See Eddie Obeid for tips

  • Candour on 02/08/2017 - 08:03

    just don't do it. keep your business sweparate. conflict of interest always happens. and you are beholden to the boss and others may get jealous. keep your nose clean,

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